Switch device for christmas tree lights



Sept. 16, 1952 R. W. ADAMS ETAL SWITCH DEVICE FOR CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS Filed Feb. 14, 1950 INVENTORS. CLAYTON L. TAYLOR R0565? WADAMS- MM M ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 16, 1952 SWITGHIDEVICE FOR 'GHRI S'EMAS TREE ..LIGHTS R'dbert'Wz'Adams and Claytondl lj flaylor,

Wheatridge, Colo.

Application February 14,- 1950; Seria1'No. 144,108

1 Claim. .;.1 This invention relates toiornamentallchristmas tree lights and more particularly to novel switch means for controlling electric current thereto.

LOrnamentalChristmaS tree-lights, prior to this :"invention, .have been formed in "strings; the light sockets :being spacedalongian,electricalconduct- :ing :wirezor wires -andthe-ends of the-conductors i connected :to a conventionaliplug whichLis received .by an electrical outlet box :orits equivalent. It .phas :beentthe practice to; control; the electric. currentjoethe. lights by...inserting or removing the plug from the outlet box or by connecting the string to a drop cord having a switch therein. This is inconvenient and cumbersome, in many cases, and the present invention obviates this procedure by novel switch construction.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an ornamental switch which may be incorporated in a string of Christmas tree lights which switch may be secured to the Christmas tree at a convenient and readily accessible point thereon.

Another object is to provide an attachment device which may be employed with present strings of lights which will serve the foregoing purpose.

Further objects, advantages, and salient features, will become more apparent from a consideration of the description to follow, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a Christmas tree decorated with lights and the subject of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one form of ornamental switch employed with the string of lights;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of one type of circuit in which the invention may be practiced.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of another type of circuit in which the invention may be practiced;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of an alternative form of the invention; and

Figure '7 is a vertical section through another alternative form of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, and particularly Figure l, the invention comprises, in general, a duplex electric conducting cord l0 having a jack or plug H at one end thereof adapted to be connected to an outlet box or electric socket, a plurality of lights I2, and an ornamental switch device I3 interposed in the light circuit.

Ornamental switch device I3, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3, comprises a tree ornament M to which is secured a switch l5. The switch illustratedyis of 'azthe rotary tumbler type. .:.l1a'vingv an actuating member. 1 6 .which may be .reciprocated axially;. successive-reciprocations moving the con- -tacts therein to circuit 1naking-andcircuitbreak- -ing relationship. A spring-within the-switchu-rges 16 outwardly to-the position shown. ...Switches of i this type: are vwell-iknown in the art and hence the details thereof. are omitted in-the interests of clarity. The, switch .is; secured in, any: suitable secured to theornament. .A spring, clip 1 8,..having manner tov asWitchsupport. [L the latter ,being an actuator I!) for spreading jaws;20,;2l. is.-secured to ornament [4 in any suitable manner, the jaws being adapted to grasp a branch or twig of the Christmas tree. It is to be understood that the clip and particular switch illustrated are exemplary only and that any suitable means may be employed for securing the ornament to the tree and any other type of switch may be employed. Examples of the latter are switches with swinging actuators, commonly known as toggle switches, rotary actuators, and double actuators similar to the type illustrated, one actuator effecting circuit making and the other circuit breaking. The particular switch illustrated has the advantage that it may be operated with one hand since the index and second finger may engage the bell shaped ornament at points 22, 23 and actuator l6 may be depressed by the thumb. Figure 4 illustrates the switch employed in a parallel circuit of Christmas tree lights, the switch being interposed in line L between the plug II and the first light of the parallel group. Figure 5 illustrates the switch employed in a series circuit. In this installation the switch may be interposed at any point in lines L' or L Figure 6 illustrates an alternative form of the invention which may be employed as an accessory or attachment for present strings of lights which are not provided with switch means. The ornamental switch may be the same as previously described and is provided with a plug lid and a plug receiving socket 24 to which is attached plu l I on one end of lines L and 1: of the string of lights. The electric cords may, of course, be of any length so that the ornamental switch may be secured to the Christmas tree at a convenient point thereon. A single pole switch may be employed, as in the construction previously described, this switch being interposed in one of the electric conductors. It is apparent that with this attachment it will serve either a parallel or series circuit as shown in Figures 4 or 5.

In Figure '7 another form of the invention is i1- 1 lustrated wherein one of the lights of a conventional string is provided with a special light socket with a switch therein. This construction comprises a housing 25 of electrical insulating material having a threaded metallic sleeve 26 at one end for receiving a conventional tree light I2. The upper end of the housing is provided with a switch 21 which may be reciprocated by an actuator 28, the actuator making or breaking the circuit between contacts 29, 30. The construction shown may be employed in Figure 4 in lieu of switch device l3, line L having switch 27 interposed therein and line L connecting with the first light of the parallel string. It is apparent that the same type of switch may be employed in a series circuit as shown in Figure 5, the wiring connections therein merely being modified to control a series circuit rather than a parallel circuit. In the series circuit the special switchsocket may be interposed at any point in the string rather than at the first light thereof. The switch-socket may be secured to the tree in any suitable manner, such as by a clip as shown in the other embodiments of the invention.

While the ornamental switch !4 has been illustrated as bell shaped, it is to be understood that this is exemplary only, and it may be made in any shape desired or to simulate any object. Many modifications will become apparent within the purview of the invention and the illustrations are to be regarded as illustrative only and the scope of the invention determined by the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what we claim as new is:

An electric switch for use in an electric circuit having a plurality oi. electric lamps connected in series therein, said switch comprising a switch body having spaced terminals and manual means for effecting electrical connection between the terminals and'for breaking said connections, an outwardly and downwardly flaring shell enclosing said switch body, means for attaching the switch body to the shell so as to be partly concealed by the shell, and means for efiecting a connection of the switch and shell to a stationary support comprising a spring clip.

ROBERT W. ADAMS, CLAYTON L. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,322,917 MacFarlin Nov. 25, 1919 1,758,982 Seghers May 20, 1930 1,914,583 Seghers June 20, 1933 1,922,022 Barnett Aug. 15, 1933 1,974,472 Seghers Sept. 25, 1934 2,114,152 Shaw Apr. 12, 1938 2,259,359 Thompson Oct. 14, 1941 2,474,454 Avery June 28, 1949 

